Taxes: Have You Paid Your Fair Share?

(CBS)  The following is a weekly 60 Minutes commentary by CBS News correspondent Andy Rooney.

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I guess we've all paid - or avoided paying - our taxes by now and it feels good to have it over with. It didn't hurt much, did it? I made more money last year than I made the year before, but of course my taxes were higher too - the most I ever paid.

To tell you the truth, I have a feeling I paid more than my share of taxes. I guess everyone feels that way.

I have an idea how the IRS could get more money out of the tax cheaters and it wouldn't cost the government a nickel: they would make tax records open to all of us. The figures would be available to anyone who wanted to look them up. This would be a good way to get everyone to pay what they owe. I'd be willing to do it if everyone else did it.

Some people wouldn't dream of cheating anywhere else but they don't worry about cheating on their tax returns if they think they could get away with it.
I've always thought that Uncle Sam goes about trying to get us to pay our taxes the wrong way.

The IRS never appeals to us as patriotic Americans. I think what everyone pays should be public information. Americans would be happier to pay their income tax if they thought that everyone was paying what they were supposed to pay.

Maybe people would be proud of what they pay instead of hiding their income.

I don't know why our tax returns are secret, anyway. What we earn isn't usually much of a secret to anyone who knows us or to anyone who wants to find out what we make.

About 45 percent of what the federal government gets comes from individual income taxes.

Forbes magazine did a piece that said that rich people hide more of their income than poor people hide. Well, of course they have more to hide but generally speaking I think Americans are willing to pay their income taxes. They just want to be damn sure they paid their share - not their share and part of someone else's.


Written by Andy Rooney

[pmjg1011]

What was all that tonight...it is time to hang it up Rooney, you had a good career but now you just come across as a angry senile old man! I can't believe they let this guy on a show as respected as 60 minutes...just plain SAD!

[sparkysr]

Flat tax..beautiful Idea...Lets get less out of the rich folks than we already do...Brilliant.

[kcowley--2008]

Dear Mr. Rooney, My father was in Patton's Army in the 94th Infantry Division. They liberated concentration camps yet remain unrecognized for their efforts. I have been pursuing their recognition, along with the help of Sen. Kennedy's office for some time now. Unfortunately we have hit a wall and am seeking any possible assistance to rectify this wrong. A friend wrote an article about my father, the 94th and our efforts to obtain Liberator status, so am posting the address as she explains it all so well. http://jdurward.blogspot.com/
My parents admire you and your work greatly and never miss a show. I know they would be thrilled if you were to play a role in resolving this matter, and I forever grateful. Thank you for your consideration, Kathleen Cowley

[darknessesedge]

want to catch tax cheats and have them pay up?
simple..
have obama name them to cabinets posts...

[axiom0001]

Mr. Rooney your story about taxes was missing one key fact -- 65% of Americans claim to make no money or make $0. That data was published by a bipartisan study. So your basic ideology that all Americans or the majority of us are willing to pay our fair share is the opposite of reality.
I agree with the flat tax law, your idea of publicizing everyone's income tax filing will open the door even wider to fraud and identity theft. The crooks will get more data about who is making the most money and where they are the most vulnerable.

[Stop_the_crying]

Mr. Rooney's idea is a good one. Butt, I do not think it will turn a red state BLUE. Lets have a few more tea parties, by those who do not pay any taxes. Who else can attend them. The rest of us have to work and pay taxes.

[ymmiT1]

Mine and several others-I am single and get sick everytime I have to shell out thousands while people with more kids than they can support get every cent back!! Some even get more than they paid in!! It's not my brats using the schools and social welfare programs.
We need a flat tax that everbody pays including the welfare lazy so they can give some of it back

[thatchmo62]

noloyalisti,
If the tax cuts to the so-called rich were so bad, why did tax revenues jump to record levels shortly afterwards and the ecomomy boom? Same thing happens after every tax cut. The problem, as always, was uncontollable spending by goverrnment and its citizens. Nobody saves for a "rainy day" anymore.

[drputt45]

OK, Andy you go first. Publish that tax return so the people will understand what sitting on your butt and saying nothing is worth. Or, not really what it's worth, but what some idiot producer will pay you.

[tomadams99]

I would truly love to see open books on taxes...especially on the elected officials and all lobbyists!! That is why such an idea will never happen! Ha